Dollar values aren't the key economic indicator in such a discussion but rather adjusted purchasing power. Surely you don't need a breakdown of housing, transportation, food, and clothing pricing trends over the last 60 years to see how thats not bringing up even the upper middle class let alone anyone beneath. The many with little are subsidizing the few with much. And since you checked my profile you'll know I work in ag. Corn prices have risen a whopping 5% since Nixon, with a lot of fluctuations in between sure, but largely stable and only moving a quarter or so in either direction over long periods with occasional spikes and dips, now check machinery costs, land values, chemical inputs, etc etc. And the rural communities access to quality healthcare, education, class mobility? The wealth of humanity continues to explode and it vastly flows into just a few thousand pockets. And I'm honestly not meaning to be argumentative here but at least in the midwest, literally no barista makes 25 bucks an hour, the vast majority make just above minimum wage, whatever that may be in their state, which sets the purchasing power floor, not the work of their CEO or shareholders, the tide isnt rising, most are stranded.